When you think about a burglar breaking into your business, you might picture a ski-masked man in dark clothing kicking in the front door and heading straight for the register or wherever your valuables are kept. This is, of course, possible. But thieves are getting more strategic about what they are after. Here are surprising items burglars are stealing today and how you can protect yourself and your property from them.
1. Catalytic converters
One of the most surprising things burglars are after are catalytic converters. It may seem odd that thieves are after this particular car part. But strikingly, catalytic converter thefts continue to be problematic across the U.S. In 2022, thieves stole 64,000 catalytic converters across the country.
The value is not in the car part’s purpose, which is to clean a car’s exhaust and make the air safer for us all to breathe. Thieves, instead, are after catalytic converters because of what’s inside them. According to CNN, there’s platinum worth more than $1,000 an ounce, palladium, worth nearly as much, and rhodium, worth almost $5,000 an ounce. Because of a catalytic converters’ exposed position, they are rather simple to steal and not easily tracked once they’re sold.
How to combat catalytic converter theft
Whether you’re a dealer with a lot full of cars or a business owner with just your own car, protecting yourself from a catalytic converter theft could save you up to $2,500 a pop. Unfortunately, locking your car doors isn’t enough to secure the catalytic converter on your car.
Video surveillance cameras would be your best bet at deterring criminals from snooping around your lot. But don’t stop there. Consider adding CPI Security’s Night Guard to your cameras for an extra layer of security. CPI’s Night Guard-enabled cameras will detect activity, alert CPI’s central station, and a central station operator can challenge the trespasser using two-way audio, lights and sirens. If the thief continues, central station operators can dispatch the authorities for you. The alternative is not having any protection at all and waking up the next morning to the roar of your car’s engine since thieves would have cut through your exhaust pipe to get to the precious metals of your catalytic converter.
2. HVAC units
As you look to protect yourself from thieves, you probably didn’t think about securing your HVAC unit. But in today’s world, it’s another surprising thing burglars are after. If you’ve ever had a HVAC unit go out, you know how expensive the repair or replacement can be. But it’s not the HVAC unit as a whole that thieves are after. Instead, they’re interested in scrapping the copper wire used inside the HVAC unit. You can get anywhere from $3 to $4 a pound for scrapping copper wire. With larger AC units having 30 pounds of copper wire or more, you’re looking at up to $120 a pop.
How to protect your HVAC unit from thieves
So, how do you stop a thief from walking off with your HVAC unit? CPI Security employs a variety of measures to protect homeowners and businesses from AC unit thieves. One way is by applying a tilt sensor onto the unit. Similar to a motion sensor, the alarm will trigger when the AC unit is moved or tilted.
But perhaps even more effective is CPI Night Guard. Central Station operators are working around the clock to monitor your business for thieves. When your CPI-enabled camera detects activity, a central station operator will pull the live video feed, assess the situation and dispatch authorities accordingly. So, you won’t just deter the thief, you have a good shot at catching them too.
Other surprising things thieves are after
- Lumber. The price of lumber tripled during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it highly valuable to thieves.
- Keys. Keeping the keys to your business in a cabinet? Thieves can gain access to the rest of your supplies and valuables by simply stealing the keys.
- License plates. Protect your license plates because thieves may be after them to commit other crimes and hide from the police.
- Medications. Prescription medication is another highly sought-after item for criminals to resell or use illegally.
- Firearms. Firearms can easily be sold or used to commit other crimes.
No matter what items you are trying to protect, CPI Security has a solution for you. Night Guard can protect items you can’t lock up on the perimeter of your business such as cars, HVAC units, lumber and any other valuables. You should also take precautions to secure the inside of your business, using a combination of motion sensors, window/door sensors, glass break detectors and more. Don’t leave your business security up to chance.
For more ways to protect your business or improve your safety at home, visit our blog.
